Gouveia votes against Speaker DeLeo

Thursday

Jan 3, 2019 at 3:53 PM

Immediately after being sworn in Tuesday, state Rep. Tami L. Gouveia, D-Acton, chose not to support six-term incumbent Robert A. DeLeo as Speaker of the House, according to a press release from Emily Odgers, Gouveia's legislative aide.

Gouveia's full statement

“Yesterday I was honored to be sworn in as State Representative for the towns of Concord, Carlisle, Acton, and Chelmsford. I was elected in November with overwhelming support from voters in my District with the promise to collaborate with all residents, colleagues, and advocates to pass policies that ensure every resident in our Commonwealth has the resources they need to thrive.

In order to engage in this work effectively, I believe it is essential to have a Speaker of the House who strives to make a more transparent legislative process and seeks to expand opportunity for debate among the public and legislators, especially on the matters most critical to Massachusetts families.

It is because of this belief, and my commitment to fighting for a more open and accessible state legislature, that I broke from the majority of my Democratic colleagues and chose not to vote to reelect Speaker Robert DeLeo for a sixth term as Speaker of the Massachusetts State House. I joined with seven of my colleagues in voting Present -- our only alternative as we lacked a feasible opponent to back instead.

In November of 2018, Massachusetts voters made it abundantly clear that they expect legislative decision making to take place in conversation with and in view of the public. Across the state and throughout my district, I have heard residents assert the need for the State House to once again meet its constitutional purpose of serving not as the Legislator’s House, or the Speaker’s House, or the Corporate Interest House, but as the People’s House. As I embark on my first term of State Representative, I will continue to cast votes for policies and practices that I judge to be most reflective of this call for transformation and reform.”